paper: Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot

[kstl99]

Thread created automatically to discuss a document in CD-Media.

Schematic for 1922's 2010 robot by kstl99

[kstl99]

I see lots of discussion of mechanical design (modelling) and program design but very little on electrical design, especially schematics. My team evidently didn't make schematics before I joined this year, so this became my roll. I use AutoCAD Electrical at work so I created schematics using the standards used in industry for machinery. Since many of the parts will be used again in future years (I hope) we should be able to reuse much of it in years to come. The componants and wires are all identified using the sheet and line of the location on the schematic. This system is very easy for people unfamiliar with the circuit to use.

How do other teams design thier robot electrical system?

[,4lex S.]

This could be pretty useful, and if I recall correctly, it was at one point recommended to ease the load on inspectors for a complex robot. Isn't the basic layout of the electrical system presented in the documentation now though?

That being said, AutoCAD electrical could be very useful for documenting custom circuits your team designs, I know it is our main design tool for circuits at work too.

It would be nice if people would do the same kind of thing with pneumatics too.

[Chris_Elston]

We use the same software. Glad to see others do the same!

2006 Version
http://www.frcsoft.com/forums/index....ds&showfile=28

2008 Version
http://www.frcsoft.com/forums/index....ds&showfile=33

We've got 2010 somewhere, just not up on our public archive site.

[Akash Rastogi]

Our electrical team students are proficient in OrCAD by Cadence and use this for our Electrical portfolio which is handed into judges and inspectors if they need it. Which one is better for the industry standard? We weren't sure what the pro's and cons were between this and AutoCAD Elec. so we just went with what our engineers could provide us for free and teach easily.

Are there any benefits to AutoCAD Elec. that OrCAD doesn't have?

.

[kstl99]

Originally Posted by ,4lex S.

This could be pretty useful, and if I recall correctly, it was at one point recommended to ease the load on inspectors for a complex robot. Isn't the basic layout of the electrical system presented in the documentation now though?

Although the basic layout is in the documentation, and I used it allot to create my schematic, you can add much more detail in the format I used, such as wire numbers, device labels, wire color and size. It is also a format that is much more common in industrial machinery and I wanted the team to get used to it.

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Our electrical team students are proficient in OrCAD by Cadence and use this for our Electrical portfolio which is handed into judges and inspectors if they need it. Which one is better for the industry standard? We weren't sure what the pro's and cons were between this and AutoCAD Elec. so we just went with what our engineers could provide us for free and teach easily.

Are there any benefits to AutoCAD Elec. that OrCAD doesn't have?

.

In my experience, OrCAD is used for PC boards. I do not know it well but I believe it has lots of tools useful for documenting electronics (ICs and transistors). ACAD Electrical has lots of tools for electrical schematics or wiring diagrams. You can get a free 30 day trial. To learn more go to http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...12&id=13846963

I need to talk to my company's ACAD distributor about supplying it for FIRST teams since Inventor is supplied. Otherwise it is costly.

[Peter Johnson]

Originally Posted by kstl99

I need to talk to my company's ACAD distributor about supplying it for FIRST teams since Inventor is supplied. Otherwise it is costly.

students.autodesk.com has it available for download, along with Inventor and all of the rest of the AutoCAD suite. FIRST students and mentors have access to students.autodesk.com (you just need to get invited).

[kstl99]

Originally Posted by Peter Johnson

students.autodesk.com has it available for download, along with Inventor and all of the rest of the AutoCAD suite. FIRST students and mentors have access to students.autodesk.com (you just need to get invited).

Thanks, but how does one get invited?

[Peter Johnson]

Originally Posted by kstl99

Thanks, but how does one get invited?

Have your team leader go to students.autodesk.com, click on FIRST (in the top menu) and read the FAQ, which links to the step-by-step instructions. After the team leader gets registered, he/she can then invite other team members by putting in their email addresses. Unlike previous years, there is no set limit on licenses per team; instead, each team member that registers gets their own complete set of licenses.

[kstl99]

I will do that. This year I did the schematic on my own but I would love to have interested students be able to learn to do it.

Thanks